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The American alligator is primarily found in fresh water swamps and marshes through the Southeastern parts of the United States. It can also be found in some rivers, lakes, and smaller bodies of water. They prefer to have calm bodies of water so they can hunt prey easier by keeping their body as submerged as possible. American gators can tolerate a reasonable amount of salinity but only for a very short period of time. They do not have the right glands in their skin like the crocodile does. This part of the country is the only place where they can survive. This part of the country is wet most of the year and is warm enough to fulfill their body temperature needs.

These alligators construct burrows for shelter and "hibernation" when the seasonal temperatures fall. When the temperatures fall to low they become dormant. Their metabolisms slow down to almost nothing making it so they do not even have to eat for months if they do not have too. It is not a true hibernation because they can emerge if the weather temperature increases. These burrows are referred to as "gator holes". These gator holes modify their habitat. They use their mouth and tail to uproot heavy vegetation and then scrape their bodies into the ground by slashing back and forth with their powerful tail and jaw. These holes, more like pits, fill with water and form a mini pond. When the dry season comes around these holes are still filled with water and stay moist throughout the dry season. These holes are the gators greatest value to the marsh and other animal inhabitants. Other organisms use these holes to stay alive as well. Without these holes many organisms would not be able to live and completely disrupt the food tree. Alligators work on these holes for years as they keep expanding them to fit their size and needs. If the dry season gets to be extremely dry they will dig these holes under overhangs in the shore that expand twenty feet in. This keeps them out of the sun making them cooler and more moist as well.